Desk



May 8,1945. l I l. SALOMON 2,375,441

DESK

Filed April 1e, 1942' s sheets-sheet 1 Fl L? fd @dr f @map/@Maw4 v May 8, 1945.

- l. SALOMON DESK , 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 16 IIIHII.

Patented'May 8, 1945 l t l v 2 Glaimsl This Avinvention rre-lates =to y:desks More speoificellllytl-iisf invention"relatesitodesk df the character which muybeempl'oyed 'in musi-'- l-n'essfand professional oflicesaandIthe like.

There is a demand for a vdesk whi'ohisfrso 'con-f :structe'd and arranged fbyr themanuacturer that thezpurchaiser thereof fm'ay hafvesembodiedzthereiin 1@by ithe txfade idealer., irather vhianibyltiiey meinu- `rfacturer, 'Marinus-*possible noxnlr'iatinlgl of tlesk ftiens.

An abject mf ithe nresmtfinvenltionithenetore; f

ris to :ammi ia, :new-and ,immroved fneskrzconstruction :embodying :ionej or #more -zenid @sections or,

rdnalwer-meceivirxg -zhousings-fadapted 1te meneive,

selectively nand interchangeably, marieusior fdif- .i ferent types andgsizes :of vslidablef-:drawers rand variousy'and `different nombinations whereof. with- --out `requiring:any :change or falteration, whatever, in fthe fconatnuction of xtheldesk itself se :that -the 'desired .interchangeabil-ity qmay rbe @madeby :the ldealer `and `the-desk-itvhns )rendered ,most suitable afor the customers @articular :needs rwithout v*the I gstnuotion-thereof.

Anvadditionalobect@faire iare'sentfinvention is n.to Aaifondy'e, -new andi-mprovedAdeskfeonstruction ,.Eig..2 is..a.

necessity jor `any echan-ge li'ngthe mechanical eon-` j Aby :means `of which :slidabledrawers fof marinus' types fandgsizes =may be selectively y,and anter-` Athat iis, :in seither Jthe, lett-fhand `end -.seotion or 1drafvvnrreceiving lndusing or :in .fthe rightehand n tehangeably arranged .in each and either nof the .endsecztions ori-drawerdeceiving.housings-thereof,

kend section :.or `drawer.receiying housing without requiring any rzl'iarige or 1alterationinthe con- Strudtion of lthedeskitsel."

` An'additional'ject.o'thelnevvinventioann- I. ,Y mar, ed v ciuaryfto the foregingobiects, isioairordanew g 6 1S an e g and improved ,desk ccms'trlm'tionvwhich :is 4Seronstructed .and .arranged .at fthe factory when distributed 'by the Vmanufacturer ,to '.his` .trade Adealerstlie latterimay make rnpjor assemble rom stock on Than'd 'various ftypes ofhidesks to satisfy 3v 45 `the various ,demands of customersgas orders are received, by "arranging various" .combinations of y, 'rlliable drawers of di'erentsiz'es "and "intended Iforitil-Hiermit vprm'poses "in each Aof jthefend sections or 'drawer-receiving fhousings'nf the new Adesk *Icon-struction; `I`thus -'enabling the trade'id'ealer to `-satisfytlre varying demands ol" *customersvv'ithout requiring the dealer to maintain `a large `supply f` df l'o'omllete "desks tonihand; thereby materially t l v 1o`v xhestzfiittedzorxhisypanticnlxr needs, within limitaa Another object nfthe-in'vention isrtoiliord a `new and improved exi'eskwvhich :Tis so 7constructed -mfndnarrangexbythe mannfaetur'erithatitenables L "sxthezdealerto '.providezhis acnstomerswithiwhat are, Vginieifeot, custom z'buili1`wdesks,` that :is tofsay, iwith i :desks l`are :assemfbledffby fzthe idealer 'from stock :parts tsupplied by the manufacturer --but which nare, mevertheless, :assembled tto meetfthe fdifferentzoustomers. l t y Other:andzurtherfobjects ofntherpresentfinven- :tionwi-ll -be apparent from :the foregoing .descrip- ,it-ion v*and claims vand V:will be. understood V"eywreferv1-ence to the `accommenying E:drawings fwhichifby fpended claims,` t

, Jnithe drawings, Y.

`typical embodiment of "the nevi;v desk construc- ,tion;..-'v` 3 horizontal sectional .top .plan ,view on elinefl-12in-Figi; e

.i-Eig. 3 is yan enlarged bodiedrin aso-.,calledlisland typeofideslml y ,is .-a ,fverticaflisectional view of the leftha-nd endiseetion `as `seen Fig. nl.;

"- inrFigJi; l r v f :fragmentary sectional det-ail yiew,.illustrating.Qanreierred manner of :slide-bly mounting ithe relatively :smaller l`or ,isoicalled fcard and Aille fdfnawers in {1i-,he .end :sections ordr awer-rec eiving fhonsingsfofthe :new desk` confstruct'ron, as4 applied .ton so-calledle drawer;

l issa zfrajgmentary'sectionel viewillustrating a preierredmanner-of "mounting warelatively H4llarge drawer, Msuch asia "so-called "secretarys Y :draven :in an end section Vor `dra-We1f-'receiving iousingfoffthe mewfdeskfoonstructiony f 1drawer,. such as also-nailed fsecretarysfdrawer, iny

on'eo thejend'se'ctions or drawer-receivinghous- 5 fings #of the `newldesl: construction;

varying butspecic requirements eandfneeds ofv l yrvrayroi illustration, .tshow ipreferred-embodrments fand ithe :principles :thereof and 'what J now con- Lsideritobe'the best modek iniwhich I fhafve laconin wiremplatedfappW'Ilg :those principles; @ther vem- -gbodimentsfof 'fthe invention embodying ftheieswme 0i for; equivalent gprinci-ples may usved i and strueA aturalfnhangesamayvbefmadeas desired by those kfskilled inxthe art Without Jdeparting-f-fro1`n the ,present invention 1 nd .the .pu-rviewcof -the,ap

`l1iiswafront elevational new'lyiuustretmg a vertical sectional view showing ,a modifloation ,of vthe invention em-u `Figniisasectional.tonplanJ/fiew on :lines-5%.', l

Fig. 8 fis ra 'fragmentary vieil;r` on 'line 18-8 in Fsilii ,l Fig. 1,1,1s` a. ragnientaryviewjpartly in. section Fig. 9 is a View on une 9-,9 in Fig. a, partly in section and partly in top plan;

Fig. 10 isA atransverse vertical sectional View,

showing themanner in which. six of the' relatively small or so-called card'drawers are assembled in one of.' the end sections or drawer- 11) it will zbe noted that each of the end sections or drawer-receiving housings I2 and I3 is provided with a plurality of vertically extending supreceiving housings embcdied in the new desk construction, namely,A the end sectionor drawer-receiving housing which is shown at the right `in and partly inv elevation, illustrating the manner in which the relatively large or secretarys drawerl f 1 is selectively and interchangeably slida'bly guided in either of the end sections or drawer-receiving? housings embodied in the new desk constructie Fig.- 12 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a preferred manner inwhich a relatively? 9 large or so-called secretarys drawer may 'beslifdfr ably mounted and guided in eithery o'f' the end v Y sections v or drawer-receiving housings. embodied v`in the new desk construction; i

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective detail .View

illustrating a preferred constructionofthe means by `which relatively'smallerdrawers such asso-.1

- called card and le drawers'may lbe slidably guided 511er, as by welding, and each of these guide rails Vl.'I "has a Ibent overcr crimped 'upper edge portion 22 which providesa runner tofacilitate s lid-l porting or corner posts I 9, one adjacent each corner of each ofsaidjend sections or drawerreceiving housings, each of said corner posts or supporting membersfIS beingpreieralbly in the .form of a channel-shaped-metallic member havling flanged edges 20, and these cornerl posts Iiiv mayfbesecured to the sidefwalls v-as Izq.' and I3a, oflthe". end sections o'r jdrjawe i, ceivin'g housings I2 and I3 in any suitable manner, as by welding.

Extending horizontally fbetween each adjacent pair of vertical supporting or corner posts I9, at

each side of each of the end sections or *drawerreceivingphousings I2 and I3, is a plurality of sta- L'tionar'y`-g'uide rails ZI which may be secured to the vertical supporting postsy I9 in any suitalble manable lmovement, ;at different times,of ythe two vinthel end sections or drawer-receiving hous-V -ings which rareembodied inthe new deskconstruction; and- Fig. 14 is a `detail partly in elevation, showings, preferred construction of an extensionslide unit which may be employedin'the new desk constructior'i` for slidably mounting' and guidingfa relatively'large drawer, such-faseJ S04-'called secretarys drawer, in either.

oftheend sections or drawer-receivingfhousings rvvhi'clrare embodied in the new desk construction. I Asshownin' the drawings, (Figsfl land'IO); `the right-hand end 'section or drawer-receiving Vhousing` I3 '(as'seen in 1) hasslidably mount.-

ed therein six relatively small orso-called card -drawers-v ll-=whereas'theotheror left-handend section or`drawerreceivinghousingI2 (as seen in Fig. 1) has slidably mounted'therein two some- 4what larger and so-called ledrawers 4'I1 Aand one.v

relatively large orso-called secretarys drawer 1I8 (Figsqi and 4.)'. TheVv present 4invention is particularly 'concerned with the': 'eonstruetion by means of which, and the manner in which, slidable' 4drawers of various ytypes fand sizes,v such as thedrawersV I EU'I'I landl I8, and variousy comv binatiojnfs'fci'ffsaid' d rawers,"rn ay be slidably and interchangeably ,mo,unted in each or eitherv `of the drawer-receiving housings or end sections I 2'and I 3 so that desksvembodying variousdesired combinations of said drawersv may beafforded `to desirableadvantages of thepresent invention,

each of 'thev said end sections or drawer-receiving` "l housingsz and'I3 embodied inthe new desk con- 'structionVV is constructedin amanner which will 'now be described anilinasmuclias `the"`constru cy tionof-b'othofthese 'endssections or :drawerreceiving housings AIZand' `I3 vis theV same-,only

one of themwillnowy'fbe described in detail,

view-partly insection and 30 yrelatively -smaller types of deskdravvers Iandf I'I thereover,v 'in r a mannerawhichfwill lbedescrfbed hereinafter. .a nu '1 l It will be* noted by reference particularly to Fig. 4 lthatethere are; therefore', -ineachof thesaid :end sections or drawer-receiving housings I2 and I3, eightof-.the vhorizontally extending stationary guide "railsf2I-22zfat ,each sidejgofreach-of the said' vend sectionsA or` drawer-receiving y.housings I2vand I3 and that these guide rails 2|r are-arranged inr aligned pairsat oppositesidesof each v of the'said end sections or drawer-receiving housguide rails 2| is alignedwith a? corresponding Afguidefrail 2| on .thefoppositeside f' thesaid' end section or drawer-receiving"housing so that housings I2 and I3-although,"of'courseithe numberofaligned pairsfof guide rails 2|-22 which maybe provided ifnjeach of `the vsaid end sections or'drawer-receivinghousings'may ybe varied depending yupon V*the* height' offthe rdesk' and the number andsize of the drawers' which it is'de- Lsued te' arrange' thereingrt"wmp@ understood v in" 'this' connection, however; that 'the' "arrangement kof leight pairs of f'alignedfguide rails `2I22 which-is shown in thejdrawing's'is Ysuiliczierit' to aeca'nniodate;V six of the relatively small f or card "drawersfl or fou'r'flle drawers VvI'I ork various "combinationsof these drawersA within 'the perv 'niissible heightlm'itationsof standard desk sizes f suchas, fo `1 example, thirty inches."

It will also be noted .particular1y by reference to Figs. tand 10,ltliat ltltiespac'ing of the 'eight pairs, of 'horizontally extending'deskdrawer-sup- "porting guidefrnemberspr rails 2 I-'22'.is non uniform, 4'thatis, the, vpairs of aligned lguide, rails 2 I.-'22 are spaced at varying and, diierentinterva1s vor `distances verticallyin .the saidend sections or drawer-receiving housings I-2 fand I3, but j have thesame spacing in each .ofthe .said endA sections or ldrawerreceiving .housings I2 vand I3,`

, forreas'ons which will be explainedhereinafter,

By referenceto.thefdrawings,-(ligs; 2, 5 and t Eachof, the. two relativelysmaller sizesof,slid. 'abledrawers, namely, eachof the card v`drawers ISQand. each of the filedrawers I7, which are `embodiedjn the new desk constructionhas a `cl'iannel-shaped`V slide member orfflange l23 at- 7,' .tached thereto at .-,each-bottornfcorner thereof,

as best illustrated infFigs. 6 and 13, in reference to `one of the file drawers I'I, there being one ofthe channel-shaped slidemembers or. flanges 23'.` aty', tached to each of the said drawers I6 and lI'I at each vof the bottom corners thereof, and these slidemembers 23 may be attached to the drawers Hi and I I in any suitable manner, as 'by welding orthe like. i

Itwill 4be noted, by reference particularlyy to "Figs and 13 of the drawings, that eachof the slide members 23 has a channel-shaped portion 24 which is `adapted to ride upon and `to -be slidably guided over and by the runner portion 24 of one of the horizontally extendingand station- I ary guide members or rails 2I--22.

By reference particularly to Figs. 7 and 12, it will be noted that the relatively large or so-called secretarys drawerv IB has attached to each side wall '2l thereof, adjacent the bottom thereof, and in any suitable manner, as by welding, a substantially' L-shaped member 25,Y and each of these members 25 has' a horizontally extending flange y or runner portion 26 which'projects outwardly from the lsaid side wall 21 of the drawer I8.

As best shown in Figs..4 and 10, each of lthe Aend sections or drawer-receiving housings I2-and I3 Ahas two pairs of vertically spaced :stationary vvguide railsz28 thereinLthere `being one of these channel-shaped stationary guide rails 28 extend- `ing between each pair of the vertically supporting posts I9; at each sideof each of the end sections or drawer-receiving housings I2 and I3, asbest Vshown .in/Figs. 4, 7,`8, 9, 1'0, '11, and l2, and these channel-shaped guide rails 28y are arranged in aligned pairs, one at each side of each of the end sections or drawer-receiving housings.

Adapted to slide in each of the stationarychannel-shaped `guide rails 28 is a channelshaped extensionslide member 29 (Figs. '7, 8, 9, l1

and 12):

@As shownv in Figs. '.7, ll, and 14, the two channel-shaped extension slide members 429 in each pair of the same (only one pair4 being shown but .others being similarly constructed as and when desired) are interconnected by a pair of transversely` extending arms or webs `23e so that the two extension slide members 29 in eachpairv or s the same operate or move as a unit and may be' inserted into and removed from either of the end ,sections I2 and 1.3 as and when desired.

VProvided in one of the channel-shaped sta- "zontally extending rail 26 .of A,one ofthe lL-shapezl vmembers which are attached to, and which are Icarried-by, the relatively -large or :so-called sec-retarys drawer I8, whereas `each ofr the'relatively 'larger and bottomrollers 38 projects'downwardly through an opening or slot 29h which is formed in the bottom wall 29a of each of the slide members 29 land rides upon the horizontally extendinglowe'r flange or rail 39 vof `the corresponding one of the said stationary channel-shaped suppertmg rails 28, as is best shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9`

'and 14.

i 'As shown in Fig. 14, each of the extension `Vslide members' 29 also `has a relatively smaller'guide l rol-ler 4-0 rotatably mounted thereon, adjacent the front thereof, and each of these guide rollers 40 rides against the bottom surface of the horzoni tally extending flange or runner 26 ofthe adjacent member 25 so as to facilitate movement of *the slidable vdrawer, I8 thereon. shown in Fig. 14, each of theslide members'29 i hasa yrelatively small guidey roller 4I rotatably *mounted thereon adiacent the upper rear portion thereof and each of theseguide rollers 4I has a portion projecting through a fslot 29e which is `i-o'rrzied in the upper horizontal Ilange 2ildofy the Y, slide member 29 so as to engage the bottom survface of the upper ilange28a of the corresponding stationary guide rail' 28 and thus facilitate movement of the slidable drawer IB thereover.

It willv be noted by reference tothe drawings, and particularly to Figs. l and 4, that the lefthand end section or drawer-receiving housing I2 has slidably mounted therein two ofthe medium `sizedor so-ca'lled file drawers .l1 and one relatively large or so-called secretarys drawer I8, the

-1 -two medium sized or so-called file drawers II'being disposed above the larger or so-call'ed secretarys drawer I8 which is shown as being arranged at the bottom of said end section or drawer-receiving housing I2, This arrangement "-or'coinbination of drawersis rendered possible IZ'by 'movement of thek members or runners tionary guide members` 28 in each pair of the,

sameis a horizontally extending slot 30., which is Vbest shown in Figs, 5, 8 and 1l, andprojecting into each of vthese slots 30, through an opening 34 which is formedA in each of the slide members 29 (Figs. 5, v8 and 9,), is an angled end portion 3I yof a spring-urged latch or stop member 32. Each" Tk of these latch or stop members v32 is yieldably mounted upon one of the slide members 29, as at v.33, (Figs. 5, 8v and 9), so that the said angled end portion 3 l` thereof normally projects into and works in the Slot :in in the corresponding slidel "member 29, said`` angled end portion 3| of each of the latch or stop members. 32 being adaptedto engage and abut against Athe end vwall 30a (Fig.

5)v of the corresponding slot 3l), when .therelatively large or secretarys drawer Iis moved into open orfextended position,`as` will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Rotatably mounted, as at 35,v upon each of the slide members 29 is an upper anti-friction roller by reason of the fact that the two medium sized or so-called file drawers I'I are slidably mounted in sai-d end-section' or-drawer-receiving housing 2.3-2.4, which are attached thereto, upon and over twopf the stationary guide rails 2I-22. i It will be noted, in this connection, that the stationaryguiderails 2I-.22 which' are adapted to support the two so-called le `drawers I-'I are properlyarranged lor spaced vertically, and? are aligned horizontally in the end section 'or' drawer-receiving :housing I2,v and `corresponding parts are similarly arranged `in the end section or drawer-receiving housing I3, to enable the ready insertion ,and removal Vof the two file drawi ersy Il through the open front of the'said end soft-ion orhousing` I2, or I3, in which they Vare Vmount-cd, and Vthat the two le drawers I1 may be readily inserted into and removed from. thev said end `section or drawer-receiving housing, I2v i or I3, by sliding engagement of `the members or -lrunners `23j-#24 which are attached thereto ywith the corresponding and selected stationary guide It, will also be noted, by rreference particularlyA yto `Ffigsrey and '7 of the drawings,that the lower `vand relatively large or so-called secretarys r drawer I8 is slidably supported .in position ofv use f the` end section 4or drawer-receivinghousing I2, inf'whichit isshown, and upon two of the f smaller and upper rollers 36 rides upon the hori- 7l' lstationary.channelshaped guide rails 2,8, by

means of the rollers 43I, 38,-4D,'4I and associated parts, as explained hereinbefore.

Similarly, as L dotted lines in Fig.'9, angled end portions 3| of the said spring-urged *latch members 32 tov be slid past the endwalls 38a ofk the slots 3D (Figs. 5 land l1) and thus1 ytarysdrawer I8 vis supported by rolling frictional contact or vengagement of the'lower rollers 38 upon the, horizontal rails, 39 of the stationary channel-shaped members 28,v and by rolling-frictional contact or engagement of the upper rollers 36 with and upon the horizontally extending ilanges 23 of the members 25, as well as by'coop-4 eration of the guide rollers,V 40 and 4I with the vparts 2li and 28a, respectively, asf pointed out .y hereinbefore, rather than by slidingr frictional engagement as are the smaller and lighter draw- ,v Moreover, by reason of ythe fact that the relatively large and so-called secretarys Adrawer iI8 is comparatively large and heavy,relative to the smallerand lighter drawers I6 and Il, one of the extension slide units 29-29--290 is associated 1 therewith to permit orl enable the outward extension .ofD the relatively large or [secretarys .'-drawer I8 particularly when they latter is filled .with relatively heavy articles such as record books 'ory the like which are adapted to; be kept there- ..in,andthis outward movement or extension of vthe secretarys drawer I8 is facilitated by movement ,of theV extension-slide unit.29 -2929c ,whichis rvreadily movable by reason of the arrangement of the rollers 36--38-,40and 4I and associated parts, as pointed out hereinbefore. Y

Hence, it 'will be seen that when outward movementis imparted to the relatively largeor secretarys drawer I8, by manually grasping the handle thereof and pulling outwardly thereon,

this movement acts, through the frictional engagement between the runners 26 and the rollers 36+ and 33 to move the' extension slide, unit 29fZ9-29c `with the relatively large or secretarys drawer I8, this outward movement ofthe extension `slide unitl 2,9-28-290 being limited lby 'l the engagement of` the' angled end portions 3I of the stop orlatch members 32 against ythe end walls 30a of the slotsy 30, as best-shown in Fig. 5.

Each of the extensionV slide units 29-29-290 may .beinserted into and removed from Vthe end section or drawer-receiving housing I2 `or I3 in which it is arranged,` soas to enable it and the relatively large "or secretarys drawer I8 associated therewith to be shifted or to be inserted 1 into or removed from the upper or lowenhalf of one of `the said end sections or drawer-receiving housings I2 and I3, orto be shifted'from oneiof said end sections or drawer-receiving'housings I2 and; I3to the other. Such` insertion, removal and vrearrangementmay be effected by' manually pressing upon the angled end portions r3-I of the spring-urged latch or stop members 32, Which are carried by the extension slides 29, so as'tov move'the said angled end portions 3l of saidlatch or stop members 32 'from the position'in which one of said latch or stop members 32 is shownin rfull lines in Fig.' 9v to the position in which ths..

said latch or stopmember 3I-32 is shoWnin This enables the said enables or permits the saidextension slide unit 29-29-'2 9c which is shown in the'drawings,l togbe removed'from the position in Which it is shown in the lower portion of the said end sectionor.

drawer-receiving housing I2 and shifted into position of use in the upper portion of the' said end section or drawer-receiving housing I2 wherein-it may vloe used with the upper pair of stationary guide rails 28-28 in the said endfsection I2, or

vfrom position of use With kthe said .end section or drawer-receiving,housing I2 into positionof use @housing I3, as may be desired, and so as to effectA l` with the other end section .or drawer-receiving apart of the'novelinterchangeability ofV desk drawers which isrembodied inthe present invention and which is referred to hereinafter. y

As best shown in FigsA and each of the end I sectionsfor drawer-receiving housings, as I2 and I3, is-provided with two pairs Yofthe channelshaped'stationary guide rails 28 so that the relativelylarge or secretarys drawer kI81may be g slidably arranged in either the upper half or vthe lower half of either of the said` end sections or vdra-wer-receiving housings I2 andl I3, although,v

for most purposes, it' may be desirable toemploy the relatively large or secretarys drawer in the bottom or lower half portion of one of the said endy sections or drawer-receiving housings since itis more readily accessible' inr this position and is in lgeneral 'more easily handled, particularly by reason of its weight, and especially when itis filled with relatively. heavy articles such, for exl yample-as record books and the like;

However, if and when desired, two of the rela- A vtivelylarge or secretarys drawers I8 may-be arranged in one of the' end sections or drawer-receiving housings, I2 and lI3,fin place'of one secretarys drawer I8 and Ytwo medium sized ile drawers I'I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, without requiring any alteration or change in construction. whatever, in said end section or drawerreceiving housing, or in the desk itself in which the said end'section or drawer-receiving housing is embodied. This interchangeability merely requires that the two medium sized or le drawers f II- be slidably removed from the end section, as,

I3, in which they are arranged, anda second relatively large' or secretarysV drawer I8, and a second extension slide unit 29-29-290 be slidably 'inserted in the saidl end section I3 in place thereof and in association. with the upperv pairv of stationary guide rails 28. j

' Hence, itwill be seen that the new deskconstructionl permits or enables the 'interchangeable or selective use of either one or two of the relatively large or secretarys drawers, as I8, to be 1 employed in-either (or both) `of the end sections "or'drawer-receiving housings I2 and I3, (each in'place of two le drawers I'Iv or in place of three card drawers I6), without requiring. any vvch'angevor alteration, whatever, in the mechani-l "cal `construction of the said end sections .or

drawer-receiving housings I2 and I3 ror in Vthe said desk I I itself in which they 'are embodied.

As pointed out hereinbefore, the two end sections orr drawer-receiving housings, I2` and I3, @are identical in construction and, `by reference 'none large or secretarys drawer I8 and two metothe drawings, it will befnoted that whereas dium sized or relatively smaller file ldrawers I1 are slidably mounted in the left-hand end section f or drawer-receiving housing I2, as seen in Fig. l,

six of the smallest or so-called card drawersfl are slidably mounted in the right-hand end section or drawer-receiving housing I3, as seen in y Fig. 1, and this interchangeability is made possible'by reasony of the novel construction and "I predetermined but unequal spacing of thealigned aa'zugeeiii- .5i

pairs` of 'horizontall-y.r extending,v stationaryv guide.n rails, 251 -222 together: with, .andi ini. combinationi with; the novel; arrangementfand; spacing ofirthes slides Olfrunners-2q3i24 whiehiarefcarriedibm the drawers l-.Gi and l1. andsiwhiclrslide-uponithesstaitionaryfguidef-rails 21h-2&2, plus :themoveli arrange-fy ment andy spacingv of f therI stationaryf channelshaped guide. rails 28;. thel extensions slides;` 2);A in. combinationy with the members;2542/Gvg;and as:-r sociatedi.parts;,`

u It. willI thus be -seenrfromtthefforegoing: descrip; f tion; Aconsidered in: conjunction: withz the accenn-l panying drawings; :that-it isz, possible: tol employ.' inifconnection" with; each of: the-i endisecti'ons vor;

newffdesk:` Hf, various; permutations; or' combinationsof 'slidabler drawers: off; different. sizesy two; ofiv suchf possible: combinationssbeingshownrinrthe; drawings, namely, sixio'fv the;- relativelyiV small; or. so-called, cardrdrawers-f |16 inthe rightehandiiendi section or drawerreceiving'housing |,3;of;-the `devskfy H., as'seenin Fig. l, and twomr. the mediumxsizedi` or so-called le ydrawers'. `Il; and one: relativelya' large or secretarys drawer inithe; left-hand-.end-l section I2;.asseen in.Fig.1., 'i I i It will: readily be-iinderstoedtand :appreciated 2 however, that various, other; permutations and: combinations of slidabler desk-drawers-.aref sible, within `the scope and. c'ontemplationfof, thel present. invention, andi that `sucia,permutations changeability.l of` the vario.us-typesand,=. sizes of: drawers is possible, ,withoutrequiringl any changeav or kalteration whatever, ini thefconstnuctionofrthe.

desk itself, 4or in they constructioni otpeither of thee` said: endsections or Idrawer.-rleceiving.,.housings; l 2y and i3 embodied therein',v and ,that thefdesiredi interchangeability` lis effected; merely; remouing. one particulardraweL-for Kcombinatiom` of,4

drawers, and substitutinginplace thereoffanother. '49

desired drawer or combinations, of drawers` A. s'lightlyrnodified. form. of. the, invention is shownin Fig. 3 of the. drawings. wherein. .thefinventionis shown..asembodied` in a. deslnof. the" so-called island. type, which -isrg'enerally indicatedt at. 43,.,.and comprises. an endsection; orI drawer-'- receiving housing.. I 2a; which may be made of any.. suitable material, but lwhichis preferably. metal and -which has4 a .desk top. I'Sa detachably mountedthereon. v,Only oneend section, namelmaleftl 50 end .section `|211v is shown in,.Fig.3, sincethe other and-.right end sectionv (notshown). is `substantially` identicalthereto.

In. this.. former. .t invention each ofthe end.

sections or drawer-receivinghousings112d ispreff 55 a plurality of vertically extending supporting or corner posts I9a having aligned pairs of runequally spaced horizontally extending guide members 2|a mountedv therein and which are similar 65 in construction to the guide members 2| which have been described hereinbefore in connection with the form of the invention which is shown-in Figs. l, 2, and 4 to 15, inclusive.

It win likewise be noted by reference to Fig. s 7o that the end section |2a has three so-called le drawers Ila slidably mounted therein upon selectedpairsof the guide rails 2Ia,jeach of the 1 file drawers. I'Ia being identical yto the le dra'wers Il, and being provided withvcorresponding run- 15 whic ners #Bae-24a whichl are. adapted to slide: upon-v selected pairs of the horizontalfguide rails 2 |.a,.

It.v will?` likewise'y be seen referenceV tof Fig., 3 that theend` section( |2a is provided. witha single 5; pain of; substantially channeleshaped. horizontally extending guide railsi28a; which are similar Ito the guiderailsA 28 and which aref arranged adjacent f the:bottom;- of; thef end. of section.- I2a f so 1as ,to icoopera-te with anextensionfslide unitF such as thaty sli'dablysupport-a. relativelylarge or secretarys drawer: or the like* inthe. bottom portionfof, each :A

of;thesaidend-sections or drawer-receiving hous pacity of each of the said..endsectionsor `drawerreceiving housings I.2a and,` 13a` is reduced.` by the verticaL-height:orfdepth ot one.-ii'leqdrawer,iv Haz-so;

that,I instead of.`l having a capacity of.v four le drawers?. or;4 sixs i card. drawers, on tworelatively largeg.-or..secretaryfsL drawers,4 as,` do each: ,orV the endysections or drawer-,receivingV housings-4 I.-2 and.1

I3 which are embodied in the otherforfrnfof` the deskl shown, inf Figs@t 1. 2. and. `4QtoV 1-5-,j inclusive, ot th drawingsfend sections |2 ainl the desk.- l embodied4 in.` the form; "of the invention. nflis ceapaeityf Offfonlrthree file@ dnawers.fI.1a,.-or fourlcard drawers I5 or one sec-r retarys'. drawer., suchA as,-|.8 and.v two/card` drawers'. on one,` secretaryis drawera'ndene file'drawer or. variousother possible,combinationsfof such draw.- e'rs, Itwill;` readily be appreciatedxthatthis.loss, off.` capacity ineachpf, theend sections or drawer receiving housings l2a .and I3isduetothe ver' tical-,space required for. and'. takenup by .theftubular; islands membersor` supporting. feet Mlfand` whichl is, equal. to. the VerticalA height'l or. depth.. ot one. ile dramer,.,'suchiv aslfla. or'. tir/ov card.'clrawers,

*Except as: pointed. outiabove, the desk. 43,. andf the. end. sectio'ns -l |2121, embodied therein- Vare substantially. similar.y in construction.. .and use to' the desk. lil. and: tothe endsections: |.2..and` |,3. en -1.7 bodiedfthereim intheaother form ofA the Zinvenftion.Y which iswshown l'the drawings, and those` parts l.ihlthe forin. offlthe. inyention: shown'. in Bcorresponding` to similan.par-tsdn the other form otthefinventiohshown Figs;v l 2 andre. 1:0515, inclusive, .have been. given. the. 4.same reference numenalsfollowedby-theletter.d'i A y Itevwill be seen, ,therefore.fromftheioregoing; description-, considered. inacombination with; the accornpanying..y drawings;c that fthe present.inven `tion aiords a newand improved desk construction embodying two end sections .or drawer-re- -ceiving housings in eachV of which various combinations of slidable drawers may be interchange- `ably arranged without requiring any change or alteration whatever inthe construction of the desk itself, or in the construction of either of said end sections or drawer-receiving housings embodied therein, thus enabling distributors and dealers handling die new desk for the manufacturer thereof to satisfy the demands and requirements of Variouscustomers by keeping on hand astock or supply of the end sections or drawer-receiving housings, desk tops, various styles and sizes` of slidable drawers, and associated parts,` which may be mounted in the new desk construction, so that the dealer may readily assemblea desk embodying theparticular arrangement of drawers needs, as and when desired.

It will also be appreciated, from the`i'oregoing y `ing a desk, but is an interchangeability builtv into the new desk by the manufacturer thereof to enable his distributors and dealers to assemble a desk embodying any desired combinationl or combinations of drawers best suited to a customers needs and requirements, without shipping? the new desk back to the manufacturer and without the necessity for making any change in the constructionof'the desk itself. f

Hence,l it'will be seen from the foregoing de- ,scription,` considered in combination with Athe accompanying drawings, that the present rinvention accomplishes its intended objects, and has the" desirable advantages, including thosey which have been specifically pointed out 'hereinbecforev I claim: 1.7 An article of furniture comprising a drawerlreceivng housing including spaced vertically extending parallel side walls, a pair of substantially channel-shaped horizontally extending guide members mounted in said drawer-receiving housing along the inner surfaces of said side walls,

porting a relatively large and heavy drawer in tion' guide members including a horizontally extending guiding ange, saidpair of friction guide members being adapted to slidably support a `relatively small and light drawer having a verticalv depth or heighth substantially smaller than, and'4 only ,a fraction of the vertical depth or l heighth of', said relatively large and heavy drawer, and three additional pairs'of saidy frictionv guide-members mounted kin said drawer- )receiving housing along the inner surfaces of said side walls thereof -and above the said desired by the customer and Vbest suited an extension slide unit including anti-frictionI rollers cooperable with said pair of substantially,` channel-shaped guide members for slidably supi pair off l y d members, saidjthree4additional pairs of said friction guidemembersl being spaced at substantially Yequal vertical distances from each other, all of Asaid four pairs rof friction' guide lowermost pair of said three additional pairs of said frictionk guidev members being spaced at' a greatervvertical distanceffrom' saidziir'st named pair. of.v frictionguide r'ne'mbersv than' it is 'from` the next adjacent pair of/said additional"friction'l guide members lying immediatelythereabove. I 2.v Anarticle of furniture comprising' a drawer- I receiving` housing including spacedY verticallyV exy tending parallel side walls, a vpair of substantially channel-shaped l horizontally extending guide members mounted in said drawer-receiving housingfr'along the :inner vsurfaces yof said side walls,

` an [extension slide unit including anti-friction said drawer-receiving housing, a pail 0f hO- rollerscooperable with said pair of substantially channel-shaped guide members for slidably supporting `a relatively large' and heavy drawer in said drawer-receiving housing, a pair of horizontally extending friction guide members mounted in said drawer-receiving housing along the inner Vsurfaces of said sidewallsy and below said pair ofV substantially channel-shaped'guide members, each of said friction guide members including a main body portion for mounting the said friction guide member in position of use in said drawer-receivinghousing and each of said fric-` tion guide members including a horizontally'extending guiding flange, said pair of friction gui-de members being adapted to slidably support a relatively small and light drawerl having a Vertical depth or heighth substantially smaller than, and

only a fraction of the vertical depth or h eighth f of, said relatively large and heavy drawer, andat least three additionall pairs of said friction guide members mounted in said drawer-receiving housing along the inner surfaces of said side walls thereof and above the said pair of substantially channel-shaped guide members, three of said additional pairs of said friction guide members being spaced at substantially equal vertical distances `from each other, and the lowermost pair 4of said three additional pairs of lsaid friction guide members being spaced at a greater vvertical distance from said first named pair o f friction guide members than it is from the next adjacent pair of said additional friction guide members lying immediately thereabove.y

IRvrNGv SALOMON. e

1 substantially fiamma-shaped guide 

